FW Murnau's unauthorized film of Bram Stoker's Dracula
NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR
with solo/live/original accompaniment by David DiDonato
Mon May 15 @ 7:30pm
$10 advance / $15 day of
This (in)famous 1922 silent film was an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Director Murnau tried to avoid any legal battles by changing the Count's name from Dracula to Orlok. Following its release, Stoker’s estate sued the filmmakers and landed a court ruling to destroy all copies of Nosferatu. But several copies survived, which is how we’re able to enjoy this truly goth cinematic masterpiece.
Nosferatu pioneered techniques and established horror tropes that have been used ever since, and Max Schreck created a seminal performance as the iconic Orlok.
David DiDonato grew up in Williamsburg, VA and moved to Richmond to attend VCU. He now calls Austin his home base. DiDonato brings his world record guitar skills (longest guitar solo, 2012) to performing his original accompaniment live for Nosferatu. According to DiDonato, "I made a version of the Nosferatu soundtrack back in 2006 because I didn't feel as though any of the other ones I'd seen accurately depicted it as what it is -- a horror movie. After finishing composing my soundtrack for Metropolis in 2018, I went back and redid Nosferatu in 2019. My version alternates between quiet and meditative classical pieces and raw black metal with an emphasis on atmosphere."